Awning



June 15, 1954 A. H. URBAN 2,680,886 7 AWNING Filed May 5, 1950 IN V EN TOR.

Patented June 15, 1954 UNITED STATS ATENT OFFICE AWNING Arthur H. -Urban, Wich one-half to Waylan Tex.

ita Falls, Tex., assignor of d D. Keith, Wichita Falls,

7 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved awning structure, and more particularly to an awning constructed of a number of identical slats or louvers adapted for assembly and attachment to window structures of widely varying sizes, whereby such an awning may be provided in the form of a package or kit containing all necessary parts convenient for assembly and attachment by the purchaser to any desired window.

The invention has for its principal object the provision of an awning structure which is capable of convenient assembly and attachment to a wide range of existing window structures of varying sizes, and which will effectively exclude the direct rays of the sun from the interior of the building, during a long period of the greatest sunlight intensity during the day, while at the same time offering a minimum of obstruction to ventilation, and affording adequate indirect lighting through the window.

A further object of the invention is to provide an awning made up of louvers of identical construction and identical braces extending between the louvers, whereby the manufacture of the awning, and the assembly and attachment of the same are greatly simplified, while at the same time assuring adequate strength and effectiveness of the device.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an awning which is effective to exclude the direct rays of the sun from the interior of the building, while at the same time projecting only slightly beyond the exterior of the window opening.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an awning of simple design and rugged construction, having few parts, and capable of withstanding the extreme conditions of exposure to which such devices are customarily subjected.

The invention will best be understood from the following description, constituting a specification of the same, when taken in conjunction with the annexed drawing wherein- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of the invention as applied to a window structure;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side view showing the structural details of one form of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the invention applied to a window structure;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4- of Fig. 2, showing the structural details of a supporting member of the awning, and the manner of attaching the awning thereto, but with the vertical rail of the window screen removed; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side view of a modified form of the invention.

Referring to the drawings the preferred form of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the awning structure is made up of a plurality of identical slats or louvers In, each of which is provided with a down-turned portion l2 and upturned portion It. The upwardly and downwardly bent marginal portions 12 and M of the louvers it are terminated by inwardly rebent edge portion I6 and I8 respectfully, forming U-shaped portions extending longitudinally of the louver, which serve to strengthen the same, and cooperate with the means by which the louvers are assembled and attached to the window structure.

Brace members 2!! are provided for connecting together the lower edge of one louver and the upper edge of the next lower louver. The brace members 29 are preferably in the form of sheet metal strips each having at its upper end a down-turned edge portion 22, and at its lower end the down-turned marginal portion 24 terminating in an up-turned edge portion 26. As will be seen from Fig. 2 of the drawing, the downturned marginal portion 25 of the brace members 28 is slightly off set, so that when the edge portion 18 of the louver I0 is engaged between the marginal portion 2t and the rebent edge portion 26, the assembled structure may be secured flat against a portion of the window structure, or a supporting channel member by means of metal screws, as indicated at 28, or similar fastening means. The downwardly bent edge portion 22 at the upper end of bracket 28 is adapted for insertion in the downwardly extending U-shaped portion of the louver above, between the marginal portion !2 and the upwardly rebent edge portion it. It will thus be seen that the braces 29 extend between and connect the outer edge of one louver with the inner edge of the next lower louver, forming a very rigid structure which can be firmly secured in position on the window. A brace member 26 is employed at each end between each pair of louvers, and all of the braces are of identical formation, thus greatly simplifying the process of manufacture, and assuring easy assembly of the parts.

At the upper extremity of the awning the top louver has its inner edge secured to the adjacent window structure by clips 39, each of which has an upwardly bent edge portion 32 engaging beneath the down-turned edge portion 18 of the louver. A clip 39 is applied at each end of the uppermost louver, and the clip is secured to the window structure by means of wood screws such as indicated at 34, or equivalent fastening means, passing through a hole in the clip.

In applying the awning the same may be assembled and applied directly to some portion of the window structure, such as a removable window screen, and in the case of a wooden framed window screen wood screws may be employed throughout as the fastening means.

In order to provide a more rigid and conveniently applied structure, however, the louver and braces are preferably assembled and applied to vertical, generally channel shaped supporting members 38, which are then secured to the vertical rails of the window screen frame. The channel members 38 are preferably of metal and are provided with spaced holes to receive the fastening screws. At the top and bottom of the awning wood screws, such as Ed and ill, may be employed which screws extend through the channel member and into the vertical rail 32 of the removable screen structure, to securely hold the awning in place on the screen. upper and lower extremities of the awning selftapping metallic screws, such as indicated at 28 in Fig. 2 may be used for securing the parts of the awning to the supporting channel memsers 38.

As many louvers may be used as may be necessary or desirable to secure the proper exclusion or the direct rays of the sun from the interior of the building, the number required depending upon the length of the window, and the particular conditions under which the awning is to be used. These louvers i0 may be made in any desired length, and are preferably formed of relatively light guage metal, which can readily be cut to any desired length for application to the particular size of the window with which the awning is to be used. By forming the louvers with downturned flange i2, reentrant lip i5, and upturned flange l4 and reentrant lip N3, the strength of the awning strip is greatly increased. Furthermore, a longitudinal corrugation or rib 33 may be provided to furnish extra stiffness to the louvers it].

By reason of the fact that the louvers are of identical shape, as are also the braces 20, the fitting, assembly and securing in position of the awning is easily accomplished requiring a minimum of mechanical skill, and assuring uniformity in the appearance of the finished article as well as durability in the structure of the same.

A somewhat mod fied form of the invention is shown in Fig. 5 or" the drawing wherein the louvers M are provided with upwardly and downwardly rolled edge portions it and 43 at their inner and outer edges, respectively. Brace members 58, having rolled edge portions 52 at their upper ends, are employed to connect together the louvers is. The brace members 513 have downwardly bent portions 5 3 at their lower ends, which portions terminate in rolled edge portions 56. The rolled edge portions 52 and 56 of the braces 59 interengage respectively with the rolled edge portions 48 and d5 of the louvers id, and the braces are secured to the adjacent window structure, or to channel-shaped supporting members 38 by means of screws, as in the form of the invention previously described. The modified form of the invention is assembled and applied to the window in the same manner as the previously described form, and is equally as effective in operation.

At the upper extremity of the modified form of the invention, as seen in Fig. 5, the uppermost louvers has its inner edge secured to the channel-shaped support, and to the window screen by Between the 1 ill a clip 58, having a rolled edge portion 60 interengaging the rolled edge portion 36 of the louvers. This clip is secured by means of a screw 34', passing through a hole in the clip, just as in the case of the form of the invention previously described.

The invention is especially useful in connecicn with the type of windows having easements which open outwardly by swinging about vertical axes, since awnings of conventional structure often interfere with the opening of such windows. The awning structure made in accordance with this invention can be assembled and applied directly to each individual section of casement and carried thereby, so that no interference with the opening movement of the casement will result.

From the above detailed description of the invention it will be seen that the same provides an easily and cheaply manufactured awning, having few parts, and capable of being assembled and applied to window structures of widely varying sizes, without the use of special tools or unusual mechanical ability. A number of louvers, together with a sufficient supply of brace members, clips, screws, and a pair of the channel'shaped supports can be packaged together in a relatively small container, forming the complete parts necessary for the construction of an awning, and sold as a unit, to be assembled and applied by the user.

While the invention has been described in connection with particular embodiments of the same, it is to be understood that these embodiments are for the purpose of illustration only, and that many changes in the particular structural details of the various parts, as well as in the materials employed may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus clearly shown and described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An awning comprising a pair of support members, a plurality of elongated strips of material, each of said strips having a re-entrant, up-turned edge and a re-entrant, down-turned edge, pairs of brace members spaced apart longitudinally of said elongated strips, each of said brace members having a down-turned, re-entrant end and an up-turned re-entrant end for complementary engagement of the lower edge and the upper edge respectively of said elongated strips to support same, means for attaching said brace members to said support members so as to form an uninterrupted series of rigidly interconnected brace members and elongated strip membars.

2. An awning comprising a pair of upright support members, a plurality of horizontal,

transversely spaced, elongated strips, each of which strips is obliquely arranged with respect to said support members and protruding cutwarcf. therefrom, each of said strips having a re entrant, up-turned edge and a re-entrant, downturned edge, pairs of brace members spaced apart longitudinally of said elongated strips, each of said brace members having a down-turned, reentrant end, and an rip-turned, re-entrant end, said respective ends complementarily engaging the respective lower and upper edges of said elongated strips for the support of the respective strips, said transversely spaced elcngated strips forming a space therebetween, and means bindingly securing each of said brace members to the respective upright support members.

3. An awning of the character described for attachment to a window screen frame and removable therewith comprising support members, brace members and horizontal strip members, said horizontal strip members protruding outwardly and downwardly with respect to said support members, said horizontal strip members having a reentrant portion on opposite horizontal edges, the lower reentrant edge portion being upturned and the upper reentrant edge portion being downturned, said edges being so shaped that the upper edge of said horizontal strip member will complementarily interengage with the lower edge of said brace members and the lower edge of said horizontal strip member will complementarily interengage with the upper end of said brace members, which brace members are so shaped and spaced as to hold said outwardly and downwardly protruding horizontal strips at an acute angle with respect to said window screen, and means for bindingly securing said brace members and said horizontal strip members to said support members.

4. A window awning adapted to be attached to a window screen frame and removable therewith, a pair of support members, means for attaching said support members to said window screen, brace members having a hook formed on each end thereof, a plurality of horizontal awning strips having the opposite horizontal edges reentrant, one reentrant edge being upturned and the opposite horizontal edge being downturned, said reentrant edges being so formed as to slidably interengage horizontally with the ends of said respective brace members, which brace members secure the awning strips in place and support them at the desired angle with respect to the window screen frame when slidably engaged therewith, and means for attaching said brace members to each of said respective support members.

5. A window awning adapted to be attached to a window screen frame and removable therewith, a pair of support members, means for attaching said support members to said window screen frame, a plurality of horizontal awning strips each having the opposite horizontal edges reentrant, one reentrant edge being upturned and the opposite reentrant edge being downturned, a plurality of brace members each having the ends thereof complementarily shaped to receive and interengage with the corresponding edge of the respective awning strip to secure and support said awning strips at an angle with respect to said window screen frame, and means for securing said brace members to said support members.

6. A window awning adapted to be attached to a window screen frame and removable therewith,

a pair of support members, means for attaching said support members to said window screen frame, a plurality of horizontal awning strips each having the opposite horizontal edges thereof reentrant and arcuate to form a longitudinal slot, brace members having the ends thereof complementarily formed to receive and interengage the respective edges of the awning strips to support said strips, means for securing said brace members to said support members.

7. In a knock-down awning for attachment to a window, a plurality of horizontally aligned, elongated strips of material with the longitudinal edges thereof having inversely arranged reentrant hook portions, brace members, a hook on each end of each of said brace members for attachably interfitting with opposite hook portions on adjacent elongated strips, and screw means for securing said brace members in secure relation with respect to said elongated strips and to bindingly engage said brace with an edge of said elongated strip.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 95,737 Sherman Oct. 12, 1869 427,287 Wood et a1 May 6, 1890 786,391 Tisch et a1 Apr. 4, 1905 2,070,130 Johnson Feb. 9, 1937 2,133,113 Pratt Oct. 11, 1938 2,244,012 Johnson June 3, 1941 2,474,011 Overly June 21, 1949 2,539,705 Simonton Jan. 30, 1951 2,587,898 Reid Mar. 4, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 140,647 Germany 1903 

